TheMountainBikeChalet for 2016?

neil_uk

Hi guys, just wondered if anyone has given these http://www.themountainbikechalet.com a go, and can recommend them and the area?

I'm much more of a trail rider than a downhiller, and prefer the blue or red type of trails with some fun decents.

Or should i be considering somewhere else? cash is tight so can't go too extravagent.... sort of 650ish all in.

Cheers
Neil

rockmonkeysc

I stayed there this summer. Nice place, great staff and excellent food. It's a two minute ride to the lift.
The marked trails are pretty crap, full of serious braking bumps and nothing interesting. There is tons on unofficial stuff though which can be accessed by the lifts. The chalet staff know the trails really well and will advise on routes.
Val D'isare is just up the road as well and we'll worth a day trip, the lifts there are free.
Les Arcs is definitely more trail bike oriented than downhill. An enduro bike would be ideal.

UH DH

Tignes is closer than Val D'Isere and also does free lifts.

neil_uk

Hi,

Thanks for the info lads. Yeah, providing I can get time off to suit - I think we'll give them a try 8)

I've currently got a trek fuel EX9 trail bike... I'm comfortable on it and have free use of a mates very sturdy bike box - So I am tempted to take it. However, I am going to weigh up the pros and cons of taking or hiring first.

Cheers
Neil

rockmonkeysc

I wouldn't take a Fuel out there, the braking bumps will kill you. Most of the hire bikes out there are Kona Precepts which aren't much better.
Tignes and Val d Isare are both on the same mountain. All trails are accessible from either town. We found parking easier at Val d'isare.

neil_uk

Thanks for the advice mate.

So, I need something with more bounce? I could borrow a remedy, apart from that I'd have to hire something.

UH DH

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19746043#p19746043]RockmonkeySC[/url] wrote:

Tignes and Val d Isare are both on the same mountain. All trails are accessible from either town. We found parking easier at Val d'isare.

Fair enough, I only ever went to Tignes once, and I was dropping off a ski transfer, so wasn't aware the lift systems for Tignes and Val D'Isere were linked, never seen the bikeparks are linked either. You would have thought they'd make a bit more of a fuss about that.

rockmonkeysc

Something with a bigger fork, 32mm stanchions will be a nightmare. I used my Scout which is 150mm front, 125mm rear with a 66.5 degree head angle and that was ok. The braking bumps at Les Arcs are the worst I have ever seen.
If you get out of the bike park there are some great trails but they are probably tougher than most UK black trails, very steep with lots of drops, big rocks, huge roots and no chicken lines.
Yellow Stone and Route 66 are ok. There's a red endure trail from Arc 1800 down to Bourg St Maurice but some of it takes real commitment to ride, some of our group bailed out of it before it even got to the hard bit and I would say they are decent riders.
At Val d'sare there are some great trails. The blue, red and black trails are all brilliant. The black has the most incredible jump I have ever ridden, you hit it at about 40mph and it's a 6' drop to a never ending landing. After a bit of sessioning were clearing 50 feet easily on trails bike.
The blue is just flat out berms, rollers and hips. Awesome fun.